Paradise Passage: from the Philippines to Raja Ampat

Manila, the capital of the Philippines and the most densely populated city in the world, is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay, on the western side of the island of Luzon. This metropolis has certainly come a long way from being a fortified settlement and renowned trading centre in the 13th century. The city attracts over one million visitors from all over the world annually. Read more about Manila, Philippines

Read more about Marinduque, Philippines

Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines, and is famous for its ‘Chocolate Hills’. These are mounds of limestone formations that turn brown during summer, making them look like ‘chocolate kisses’. They can be best seen either by climbing to the highest point or by air via ultralight airplane tours. Read more about Bohol, Philippines

Sorong (population 200,000) is a coastal city in the eastern Indonesian province of West Papua, 100km south of the Equator, and bordering the Sorong Regency. It is the gateway to Indonesia's Raja Ampat Islands, rich in coral reefs in an area considered the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity. It is also the logistics centre for Indonesia's thriving eastern oil and gas frontier, and a major container terminal. Read more about Sorong, Indonesia

Pulau Gam is a small island located in the Raja Ampat archipelago, off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula in West Papua, Indonesia. Raja Ampat (“Four Kings”) constitutes 1,500 greatly varied islands. As the archipelago is remote and relatively undisturbed by outsiders, there is an amazing diversity of marine life, with perhaps the richest coral reef ecosystem in the world. Read more about Pulau Gam (Raja Ampat), Indonesia

Pulau Gam is a small island located in the Raja Ampat archipelago, off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula in West Papua, Indonesia. Raja Ampat (“Four Kings”) constitutes 1,500 greatly varied islands. As the archipelago is remote and relatively undisturbed by outsiders, there is an amazing diversity of marine life, with perhaps the richest coral reef ecosystem in the world. Read more about Pulau Gam (Raja Ampat), Indonesia

Pulau Gam is a small island located in the Raja Ampat archipelago, off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula in West Papua, Indonesia. Raja Ampat (“Four Kings”) constitutes 1,500 greatly varied islands. As the archipelago is remote and relatively undisturbed by outsiders, there is an amazing diversity of marine life, with perhaps the richest coral reef ecosystem in the world. Read more about Pulau Gam (Raja Ampat), Indonesia

Pulau Gam is a small island located in the Raja Ampat archipelago, off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula in West Papua, Indonesia. Raja Ampat (“Four Kings”) constitutes 1,500 greatly varied islands. As the archipelago is remote and relatively undisturbed by outsiders, there is an amazing diversity of marine life, with perhaps the richest coral reef ecosystem in the world. Read more about Pulau Gam (Raja Ampat), Indonesia

Pulau Misool (Misool Island) is one of the four largest islands of the Raja Ampat (the Realm of Four Kings) archipelago, comprising over 1,500 islands, in West Papua, Indonesia. They create a spectacular view of closely-spaced islands covered with bright tropical flora and fauna. In addition there are caves everywhere. Read more about Pulau Misool, Indonesia

Pulau Misool (Misool Island) is one of the four largest islands of the Raja Ampat (the Realm of Four Kings) archipelago, comprising over 1,500 islands, in West Papua, Indonesia. They create a spectacular view of closely-spaced islands covered with bright tropical flora and fauna. In addition there are caves everywhere. Read more about Pulau Misool, Indonesia

Sorong (population 200,000) is a coastal city in the eastern Indonesian province of West Papua, 100km south of the Equator, and bordering the Sorong Regency. It is the gateway to Indonesia's Raja Ampat Islands, rich in coral reefs in an area considered the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity. It is also the logistics centre for Indonesia's thriving eastern oil and gas frontier, and a major container terminal. Read more about Sorong, Indonesia